A total of 1,500 suspected illegal miners are being prosecuted by the Attorney General’s office, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has disclosed.
The Director of Communications at the Ministry, Mawusi Ama Mawuenyefia, told the media at a press briefing on Friday, October 10, 2025.
According to her, the suspects involved in the cases were arrested through an operation led by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat within the last nine months.
She also revealed that NAIMOS confiscated several excavators, changfang machines, water pumping machines and generators since January 2025.
“We have also confiscated some changfang machines, some heavy-duty water pumps, some generators, some Land Cruiser vehicles, shovels, pickaxes, mobile phones, Indian hemp, mercury, torchlight and a whole lot of things.
“We are also clear to say the law is the law, and if you break the law, there will be consequences. We have seen several arrests over the period. We are talking close to 1500 arrests over the period, and the Attorney-General is working on prosecutions,” she stated.
Meanwhile, she has also told the media that a bill to establish special tribunal courts to facilitate prosecution of illegal miners will be laid in Parliament when the House resumes.
“This week in Cabinet, there was a bill that was laid for Special Tribunal courts for specialised cases, and you can bet that illegal mining is going to be one of them. So, in the coming days when Parliament resumes, we are going to see that bill laid, and we are going to see faster prosecutions for illegal mining cases as we go along.
“There is political will, and this government are resolved and unwavering in their commitment to bringing an end to this threat,” she said.
To help intensify the fight against galamsey, the Ministry has deployed 400 NAIMOS personnel to the security zones and the hotspots known for illegal mining activities.
Individuals who also want to report any suspected activities of illegal mining in their communities are to call 0240700487.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
